Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes workplace sexual harassment illegal. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other sexual conduct that “explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment”. This includes “quid pro quo” behavior, and any conduct that works to create a hostile work environment. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is tasked with enforcing Title VII. An investigation will consider the wider picture of the workplace by asking questions like: What is the nature of the sexual advances? What is the context of the workplace?

One minute, you’re in the park lifting your recently fed, marvelously happy four-month old in the air, and the next the baby is screaming and has made her way into your spouse’s arms. Your spouse is stressed, you’re frustrated and life is unlike it ever was before.

Recently, I heard the CEO of a Fortune 100 company (who is a white male) describe an “a-ha” moment he had. His “a-ha” moment occurred when he finally realized what diversity really means. While looking over the agenda for a senior leadership meeting, he saw “team building activity” on the list and asked the group, “So, where are we playing golf?”

Wages, hours, and overtime: These are common concerns of employees starting a new job. New employees might assume that their employer will follow the law when it comes to communicating issues about wages. However, unfortunately, many do not. Some don’t follow the law out of ignorance of their legal obligations, and others don’t follow protocol because they know that it is to their benefit to keep their employees in the dark. Worse still, many employees put up with situations where their rights are violated because they may lack other financial and employment options.

Ames Edward “Eddie” Eppinger, a bodybuilder addicted to prescription painkillers and an illegal steroid, was sentenced to 14 days in jail for traffic violations on August 21, 2000. Within five days he was dead, accidentally strangled by a deputy trying to move him into an isolation cell.

For more than 30 years, the lawyers at Parks, Chesin & Walbert have been committed to representing clients in a wide array of litigation matters, including constitutional disputes, employment discrimination, civil rights, class actions, government contracting, and catastrophic injury cases.